Helping Yourself Through Helplessness: Taking Action in Difficult Situations

In the face of overwhelming odds, feeling hopeless and helpless can cause even the most determined individual to want give up. The world may look daunting when you feel so isolated and powerless against the forces of life. It could be anything from having the ambitious idea of forcing a career change while struggling in an unhappy job or relationship, to feeling so low it seems impossible to start making progress. Despite the feeling of doom or fear that comes with these circumstances, taking action towards a better future is possible with effort and bravery.

When feeling helpless and overwhelmed by the enormity of your situation, take time to review your priorities. It’s a simple but essential step, as it allows you to access what matters most. Although difficult or impossible at first, try to find something that will make a difference, large or small, like making some headway in a task that needs attention. It helps to remind yourself of past successes and power through the moment of stagnation.

You should also try to accept failure. That doesn’t mean you must accept it as an inevitable outcome, but rather that you should view “failures” as learning tools to help you achieve success in the future. Focusing on the success rate and not the failures may seem counter-intuitive, but it’s a great way to encourage yourself to keep going, even with the slightest bit of progress.

Taking small steps to move forward can prove more valuable than analyzing the situation and feeling burdened by the probable outcomes. The need to be productive often eliminates hesitation. Moving towards a tangible result and understanding the rewards of realization can propel you beyond the initial helplessness. Committing yourself to consistent effort, no matter how small and incremental, will contribute to the desired effect of progress.

It takes courage to do something that may or may not work out. To face unrealistic expectations or the unknown can bring on a sense of paralysis, yet taking a leap of faith into uncharted domain can bring the feeling of a risk well taken. Not everything will turn out as planned; however, the mere act of taking action while feeling helpless speaks volumes of bravery and strength. Even in the times of unforeseen events, maintaining faith that the best result possible awaits us provides tremendous solace.

The warm and comforting realisation that can be found during this journey is that sometimes feeling helpless can spark the energy needed to create renewed hope and confidence. Courage and determination shines as proof of the battle within yourself, uncovering the strength to overcome what appears to be insurmountable odds. Lead yourself with courage and honour each moment as a step in the defining transformation. Helping yourself through helplessness is what gets you from where you are to where you need to go.